South Africans who have grown up with Eskort bacon, sausages and other pork products will soon see a new name at the top of the company, as the homegrown food brand prepares for a major leadership change.
First Food Brands, which owns Eskort, has appointed Herman Janse van Rensburg as its incoming group chief executive officer. He is due to take over on 1 March 2027, bringing Arnold Prinsloo’s 22-year period at the helm to a close.
The change will be phased in over several months. Janse van Rensburg is expected to join Eskort on 1 January 2027, giving him two months to work alongside Prinsloo before formally assuming the position. Prinsloo will remain involved in the handover before stepping down at the end of February, as per Biz Community.
The appointment brings a change of industry for Janse van Rensburg, but not a departure from the food manufacturing sector.
He has spent 16 years at Lactalis South Africa, working his way through financial management, business unit leadership and operations before becoming general manager in July 2023. Lactalis announced his appointment to that position in 2023, following his time as chief operating officer.
That background could prove valuable as Eskort looks to grow its manufacturing operations, strengthen its retail presence and develop products for changing consumer tastes.
First Food Brands chairman Gerard Braak said Janse van Rensburg brings a combination of financial knowledge, operational experience and executive leadership that fits the company’s ambitions.
Braak also pointed to the importance of building a food brand that customers continue to trust, particularly as the business looks to expand its reach across South Africa.
The business Prinsloo leaves behind
Prinsloo’s departure marks the end of a lengthy period of leadership at a company with roots stretching back more than a century.
According to Eskort’s official history, the business began in 1917 when nine people gathered in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal, to establish a bacon-curing factory. The factory opened in 1918, and the brand gradually grew beyond its original operations into a familiar name in South African households.
Today, the company operates manufacturing facilities in Estcourt and Heidelberg, Gauteng, and has built a nationwide retail network. Its range includes bacon, fresh pork, sausages, cold meats and convenience products. Recent industry reporting has put its branded retail network at more than 30 stores across eight provinces, alongside a portfolio of more than 300 antibiotic-free pork products, as the Daily Investor reports.
Under Prinsloo, Eskort has also pursued opportunities beyond its traditional supermarket offering. In December 2025, Business Day reported that the company was targeting growth in the hospitality and food-service market, supplying businesses such as hotels, restaurants and caterers with a broader selection of meal solutions.
These developments provide a glimpse of the business Janse van Rensburg will inherit: a longstanding South African brand seeking new avenues for growth while maintaining its place in consumers’ everyday meals.
What happens next?
The immediate priority will be a smooth leadership transition. Janse van Rensburg will begin working with Eskort in January, with Prinsloo remaining involved during the two-month induction period.
The board has indicated that it wants to maintain the direction established under the outgoing CEO, with continued attention to manufacturing capacity, product development, retail expansion and the brand’s broader market presence.
For Janse van Rensburg, the challenge will be to build on Eskort’s established reputation while guiding the business through its next stage of development.
For Prinsloo, the handover brings a 22-year chapter to a close. For Eskort, it begins a new one, with an incoming leader whose experience spans the financial, commercial and operational sides of the food industry.
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!
Also read:
Take Back Our Mountains withdraws from Table Mountain following heavy fines
Picture: Fani Mahuntsi / Gallo Images
